Established in 1903, Rhodes Scholarships bring together outstanding students from around the world for a one-, two-, or three-year period of study at Oxford University. The 32 scholarships are granted each year to U.S. citizens, and approximately 70 scholarships are given to citizens of other former British Commonwealth countries and a growing number of additional countries.
Table of Content
Summary
- Application DeadlineAugust 22, 2025
- Study LevelMasters , PhD
- SponsorPrinceton University
- City to studyNew Jersey
- Eligible CountryUnited States
Requirements
- Citizens of any country are eligible, but most awards are allocated to U.S. citizens, some U.S. permanent residents, citizens of certain British Commonwealth countries, and citizens of other “jurisdictional” countries.
- Between the ages of 18 and 24 by October 1 of the year of application; non-U.S. applicants have various age requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree before commencing study at Oxford.
Interview Dates and Process
The criteria for Rhodes Scholars were established by the will of Cecil Rhodes, the founder of the scholarships, and by the various national Rhodes Trust Committees. They have been revised over the years.
- Academic excellence: Although there is no GPA requirement, strong U.S. Rhodes applicants generally have at least a 3.7 GPA.
- Qualities of moral leadership and social purpose: These qualities are not easy to define, though in short, candidates should exhibit outstanding potential outside the classroom as well as in it.
- Candidates should demonstrate “physical vigor.” This concept originally referred to athletic ability but is now commonly seen as a passion and energy to make an impact on the world. The emphasis put on this final category—as with the definition of what activities are deemed “athletic”—varies somewhat from committee to committee. It should keep no one from applying.
There is a danger that potentially strong candidates who do not consider themselves the “Rhodes type” will fail to apply for this very attractive scholarship. There is no “Rhodes type,” as the extraordinary variety of Princeton recipients in recent years amply attests.
Note that non-U.S. Rhodes applicants have different deadlines and selection criteria.
Application Documents
- Résumé (two pages maximum)
- 750-word personal statement and a 350 word academic proposal (uploaded as one file).
- Eight letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
Application Deadline
August 22, 2025How To Apply
Princeton University must endorse applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship. This endorsement process involves the submission of supporting materials to your Rhodes (U.S.) Global Systems Program (GPS) Application by the Princeton campus deadline:
For more details, visit Princeton University Scholarship webpage
